For many, it’s championship weekend. And Sportsfan’s Jordan Goethe is here to help, with his most recent rankings.
Quarterback
1) Russell Wilson vs KC
2) Andrew Luck vs NYG
3) Patrick Mahomes vs Sea
4) Drew Brees vs Pit
5) Deshaun Watson vs Phi
6) Matt Ryan vs Car
7) Ben Roethlisberger vs NO
8) Mitchell Trubisky vs SF
9) Aaron Rodgers vs NYJ
10) Baker Mayfield vs Cin
11) Kirk Cousins vs Det
12) Dak Prescott vs TB
13) Phillip Rivers vs Bal
14) Tom Brady vs Buf
15) Jared Goff vs Ari
16) Nick Foles vs Hou
17) Nick Mullens vs Chi
18) Jameis Winston vs Dal
19) Marcus Mariota vs Wsh
20) Josh Allen vs NE
–There are a few QBs that have great matchups this week such as Mitchell Trubisky vs the Niners, Deshaun Watson vs Phi, and Matt Ryan vs Carolina. But the guy who could be available on your waiver wire and has a better matchup than all of those top QBs is Baker Mayfield vs rival Cincinnati. The Bengals are ranked dead last vs opposing QBs in fantasy this season. It’s not Cleveland anymore it’s Believeland!
— If you’re in a deeper league or if you lost you’re starting QB like Cam Newton or potentially Aaron Rodgers, I would stream Dak Prescott this week vs Tampa Bay. Even though TB has improved in recent weeks, I still don’t believe in that defense. And the Cowboys are still in must-win mode. Dallas still needs to go out there and perform.
Running Backs
1) Christian McCaffrey vs Atl
2) Todd Gurley* vs Ari
3) Saquon Barkley vs Ind
4) Ezekiel Elliott vs TB
5) Alvin Kamara vs Pit
6) Nick Chubb vs Cin
7) Melvin Gordon vs Bal
8) Phillip Lindsay vs Oak
9) Joe Mixon* vs Cle
10) Derrick Henry vs Wsh
11) Chris Carson vs KC
12) Dalvin Cook vs Det
13) David Johnson vs LAR
14) Tarik Cohen vs SF
15) Marlon Mack vs NYG
16) Leonard Fournette vs Mia
17) Tevin Coleman vs Car
18) James White vs Buf
19) Jordan Howard vs SF
20) Gus Edwards vs LAC
21) Spencer Ware* vs Sea
22) Jaylen Samuels vs NO
23) Mark Ingram II vs Pit
24) Jamaal Williams* vs NYJ
25) Sony Michel vs Buf
26) Damien Williams vs Sea
27) James Connor* vs NO
28) Matt Breida* vs Chi
29) Elijah McGuire vs GB
30) LeSean McCoy vs NE
31) Lamar Miller* vs Phi
32) Peyton Barber vs Dal
33) Kalen Ballage vs Jax
34) Jalen Richard vs Den
35) Nyheim Hines vs NYG
36) Kenyan Drake vs Jax
37) Adrian Peterson vs Ten
38) Dion Lewis vs Wsh
39) Josh Adams vs Hou
40) Theo Riddick vs Min
— It’s been hard to start and trust Derrick Henry this season, but over the last two weeks the guy has rushed for over 408 yards and 6 touchdowns. I think it’s time to start believing in the Titans’ ground game. Now Derrick is playing the banged-up Washington Redskins, who are really struggling.
— More signs this week are pointing towards James Connor not playing on the road vs the Saints, which means Jaylen Samuels will be the lead back once again. Samuels can be a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. He can lineup all over the field and can play multiple positions. For fantasy owners, that just means this guy should and can flat-out produce.
— Damien Williams vs Spencer Ware has been one of the biggest topics this week. A lot of experts still like
Ware, but I’m on the other side. I believe in the guy that has produced in back-to-back weeks now. HC Andy Reid will continue to find a way to keep Williams involved in this explosive offense.
Wide Receiver
1) DeAndre Hopkins* vs Phi
2) Michael Thomas vs Pit
3) Devante Adams vs NYJ
4) Antonio Brown vs NO
5) Julio Jones* vs Car
6) Tyreek Hill vs Sea
7) Amari Cooper vs TB
8) Ju-Ju Smith Schuster vs NO
9) Adam Thielen vs Det
10) Robert Woods vs Ari
11) Odell Beckham Jr.* vs Ind
12) Julian Edelman vs Buf
13) Keenan Allen* vs Bal
14) Jarvis Landry vs Cin
15) Stefon Diggs vs Det
16) Brandin Cooks vs Ari
17) Allen Robinson vs SF
18) TY Hilton* vs NYG
19) Alshon Jeffrey* vs Hou
20) Tyler Lockett vs KC
21) Mike Evans vs Dal
22) DJ Moore vs Atl
23) Kenny Golladay* vs Min
24) Demaryius Thomas vs Phi
25) Doug Baldwin vs KC
26) Josh Reynolds vs Ari
27) DaeSean Hamilton vs Oak
28) Calvin Ridley vs Car
29) Dante Pettis vs Chi
30) Mike Williams vs Bal
31) Robby Anderson vs GB
32) Adam Humphries vs Dal
33) Corey Davis vs Wsh
34) Robert Foster vs Buf
35) Larry Fitzgerald vs LAR
36) Courtland Sutton* vs Oak
37) Golden Tate vs Hou
38) Chris Hogan vs Buf
39) Mohammad Sanu vs Car
40) Chris Godwin vs Dal
— With Josh Gordon out, who will benefit from his absence the most in that Patriots offense? I believe Julian Edelman will still continue to get most of the targets, but keep an eye on Cordarrelle Patterson.
He is lightning fast and the Patriots love playing him all over the field.
–DaeSean Hamilton has replaced Emmanuel Sanders pretty nicely in Denver’s offense and he is a guy that could be that under-the-radar impact player who could help get you that league championship. I would also start all Falcons offensive players this week vs that struggling Carolina defense.
Tight Ends
1) Travis Kelce vs Sea
2) Zach Ertz vs Hou
3) Jared Cook vs Den
4) George Kittle vs Chi
5) Evan Engram vs NYG
6) Eric Ebron vs NYG
7) David Njoku vs Cin
8) Austin Hooper* vs Car
9) Trey Burton vs SF
10) Rob Gronkowski* vs Buf
11) Vance McDonald vs NO
12) Kyle Rudolph vs Det
13) Jimmy Graham* vs NYJ
14) Ian Thomas vs Atl
15) CJ Uzomah vs Cle
16) Gerald Everett vs Ari
17) Chris Herndon vs GB
18) Vernon Davis vs Ten
19) Cameron Brate vs Dal
20) Benjamin Watson vs Pit
Defenses and Special Teams
1) Rams vs Ari
2) Titans vs Wsh
3) Vikings vs Det
4) Bears vs SF
5) Dolphins vs Jax
6) Jaguars vs Mia
7) Chargers vs Bal
8) Colts vs NYG
9) Texans vs Phi
10) Patriots vs Buf
11) Cowboys vs TB
12) Ravens vs LAC
13) Broncos vs Oak
14) Browns vs Cin
15) Packers vs NYJ
Kickers
1) Greg Zuerlein vs Ari
2) Justin Tucker vs LAC
3) Will Lutz vs Pit
4) Ka’imi Fairbairn vs Phi
5) Brett Maher vs TB
6) Harrison Butker vs Sea
7) Aldrick Rosas vs Ind
8) Cody Parkey vs SF
9) Stephen Gostkowski vs Buf
10) Mason Crosby vs NYJ
*-Injury concerns